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{{short description|2006 action thriller film by Puri Jagannadh}}
{{for|the 2007 Tamil remake|Pokkiri}}
{{good article}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = 
| image          = Pokiri movie poster.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Puri Jagannadh]]
| producer       = Puri Jagannadh<br />[[Manjula Ghattamaneni]]
| writer         = Puri Jagannadh
| screenplay     = 
| story          = 
| based_on       = 
| starring       = {{plainlist|
*[[Mahesh Babu]]
*[[Ileana D'Cruz]]
*[[Prakash Raj]]
}}
| narrator       = 
| music          = [[Mani Sharma]]
| cinematography = [[Shyam K. Naidu]]
| editing        = [[Marthand K. Venkatesh]]
| distributor    = Vaishno Academy
| released       = {{Film date|df=yes|2006|4|28}}
| studio         = [[Indira Productions]]<br />[[Vaishno Academy]]
| runtime        = 168 minutes
| country        = India
| language       = Telugu
| budget         = {{INR}}10{{ndash}}12 crore{{efn|[[Sify]] reported the film's budget as {{INR}}10 crore,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/mahesh-in-sankranthi-race-news-news-lhvlLSjajbjsi.html |title=Mahesh in Sankranthi race |date=21 July 2011 |website=[[Sify]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805131000/http://www.sify.com/movies/mahesh-in-sankranthi-race-news-news-lhvlLSjajbjsi.html |archive-date=5 August 2015 |url-status=dead |access-date=5 August 2015}}</ref> whereas ''[[The Hindu]]'' reported the film's budget as {{INR}}12 crore.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/article3231882.ece |title=A few hits and many flops |last=Narasimham |first=M. L. |date=29 December 2006 |website=[[The Hindu]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150808145256/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/article3231882.ece |archive-date=8 August 2015 |access-date=8 August 2015}}</ref>|name="budget"}}
| gross          = {{Estimation}} {{INR}}70 crore<ref>{{cite web |title=Kangana Ranaut said no to playing the leading lady opposite THIS Tollywood actor |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/when-kangana-ranaut-refused-to-work-with-mahesh-babu-in-his-telugu-blockbuster-pokiri-13174902.html |website=Firstpost |access-date=13 April 2025 |language=en-us |date=27 September 2023}}</ref>
}}
'''''Pokiri''''' ({{translation|Rogue}}) is a 2006 Indian [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-language [[action thriller film]] written and directed by [[Puri Jagannadh]]. The film was produced by Jagannadh and [[Manjula Ghattamaneni]] by their respective production companies [[Vaishno Academy]] and [[Indira Productions]]. The film stars [[Mahesh Babu]], [[Ileana D'Cruz]], [[Prakash Raj]], [[Nassar (actor)|Nassar]], [[Ashish Vidyarthi]] and [[Sayaji Shinde]]. In the film, a local goon whose killer instincts earns him not only his girlfriend's disapproval and a corrupt cop's enmity, but also the attention of a wanted crime boss.

The film was made on a budget of around {{INR}}12 crore. principal photography commenced in November 2005 and lasted until April 2006. Most of the film was shot in and around [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]] and [[Chennai]], except for a song which was shot at the [[Provinces of Thailand|province]] of [[Phuket Province|Phuket]] in [[Thailand]] and the city of [[Bangkok]]. [[Shyam K. Naidu]] was the film's [[cinematographer]], and it was edited by [[Marthand K. Venkatesh]]. The [[soundtrack]] and [[film score]] were composed by [[Mani Sharma]].

''Pokiri'' was released on 28 April 2006. The film grossed over {{INR}}70 crore worldwide in its initial theatrical run and was declared an ''Industry Hit'' while remaining as the [[List of highest-grossing Telugu films|highest-grossing Telugu film]] for three years until it was surpassed by ''[[Magadheera]]'' in 2009. The film was also one of the fourteen southern Indian films to be screened at the [[International Indian Film Academy Awards]] (IIFA) Film festival, along with   [[V. V. Vinayak]]'s  ''[[Tagore (film)|Tagore]]'' in 2006. The film won five [[Nandi Awards]] and two [[Filmfare Awards South|Filmfare Awards]]. It was remade in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] as ''[[Pokkiri]]'' (2007), in [[Hindi]] as ''[[Wanted (2009 film)|Wanted]]'' (2009), in [[Kannada]] as ''[[Porki]]'' (2010), and in [[Bengali language|Bengali]] as ''[[Moner Jala]]''.

== Plot ==
In [[Hyderabad]], two rival mafia gangs headed by [[Dubai]]-based don Ali Bhai and Narayana resort to criminal activities such as extortion, [[contract killing|contract]] and coercion to take control of the city. The new [[Deputy Commissioner of Police|DCP]] Sayyad Mohammad Pasha Qadri, focuses on making the city a better place by working on arresting all of them. Pandu, a thug working for money and living in Hyderabad along with his friends, is hired by Narayana to beat up Ali Bhai's henchmen Mallesh. Pandu later joins Ali Bhai's gang for monetary reasons. Pandu falls in love with Sruthi, an aerobics teacher, who rejects his advances

Sruthi lives with her widowed mother and brother and her neighbor Brahmi, a software engineer who pesters her to marry him. A corrupt [[Sub-Inspector|SI]] named Pasupathy, who works for Ali Bhai and is supporting him, lusts after Sruthi. He is determined to make her his mistress, undeterred by Sruthi's and her mother multiple rejections. He threatens Sruthi's mother if she doesn't agree to be his mistress, he would put a brothel case on her and arrest her. After killing Narayana's henchman, Pandu is confronted by Pasupathy and is able to prevent Sruthi from being molested. Shruthi meets him the next day to thank him, and Pandu introduces himself as a self-employed person who undertakes any activity for money. Sruthi falls in love with Pandu slowly after spending sometime with him. Sruthi tells Pandu about Pasupathy forcing her to be his mistress which angers Pandu. Pasupathy gets angry about Sruthi and Pandu's love and confronts Pandu about telling him that Sruthi is his mistress, where Pandu says that he loves Sruthi truly that Sruthi is his love, and he also confronts Sruthi and tells her that he is her husband and she can not love Pandu. Surya Narayana, Sruthi's employer suggests that she marry the man she loves.

To escape from Pasupathy's advances, Shruthi meets Pandu and proposes to him. After an attack by Narayana's henchmen, Pandu brutally dispatches all the goons, where he reveals himself as a remorseless assassin and suggests that she might want to rethink her proposal leaving Sruthi heartbroken. Ali Bhai's gang tries to figure who dispatched Narayana's men where Pandu tells he did it. Meanwhile, Narayana sends more of his men to assassinate Pandu and where he dispatches them again. When Mona arrives at his house and tries to have sex with Pandu, and Sruthi sees him assassinating all of Narayana's men and sees Mona with him, she starts distancing away from Pandu. Pasupathy tries to sexually assault Sruthi where her mother requests not to ruin her life. He sends three mens to her house to create a fake rape like scene so that no one ever marries Sruthi. The three men cut her clothes and create a fake scene showing everyone outside sruthi's house as if she was raped. Sruthi's brother tells Pandu that Sruthi is getting raped, where Pandu reaches there he sees sruthi in a devastated state.Pandu gets angry and beats up Pasupathy that if he was involved in it that he would murder him.

Meanwhile, Ali Bhai visits Hyderabad and assassinates Narayana, where he meets Pandu to discuss the murder of a minister by blowing up children's [[balloons]]. Pandu rejects the plan as it would involve killing innocents. In the middle of their argument, the police raids the club and arrests Ali Bhai. Meanwhile, Sruthi confronts Pandu about him why beat up Pasupathy where he says that he doubted him of being involved in her fake rape and tells her he loves her very much. Sruthi tries to convince Pandu to leave violence but she faces multiple rejections by him. Sruthi almost gets raped in the train again by the three men who previously created a fake rape scene, Sruthi's brother calls Pandu who listens to the whole conversation and goes to save her. Pandu brutally kills the men and Sruthi finally accepts him following which the two share a hug. Ali Bhai's gang members retaliate by kidnapping Qadri's daughter, drugging her and creating a lascivious video of her which they threaten to release to the media if Ali Bhai is not released, forcing the embattled Qadri to release Ali Bhai where Pandu slaps Mona and tries to fight with Guru where he tries to shoot him but Mona stops him. However, in her drugged state, Qadri's daughter reveals that her father had placed an [[Covert operation|undercover officer]] as a mole in Ali Bhai's gang. The gang members find out that an [[Indian Police Service|IPS]] officer by the name of Krishna Manohar, the son of a retired [[Inspector]] Suryanarayana, has gone undercover to finish off the syndicate gangs and is now a part of their gang. Ali Bhai kills Ajay, believing he is Krishna Manohar.

However, it is revealed that Ajay was actually Suryanarayana's adopted son. Ali Bhai then kills Suryanarayana to lure the real Krishna Manohar. When Krishna Manohar actually turns up, everyone, especially Sruthi and Pasupathy are shocked to see that he is none other than Pandu. Pandu has an emotional breakdown after seeing his father and Ajay killed. After Suryanarayana and Ajay's cremation, Pandu decides to kill Ali Bhai, and tells DCP about his plans. Sruthi tries to stop Pandu from going to kill Ali Bhai, where he tells her to think as him of a criminal for another 24 hours and gives a goodbye just in case if he does not come back. Pandu forces Pasupathy to call Ali Bhai to find out his location, which is Binny Mills. Pandu arrives at [[Binny Mills]] and starts to kill Ali Bhai's gang members one by one, rescuing Qadri's daughter in the process. In a final confrontation, Pandu thrashes and kills Ali Bhai by slashing his throat with a broken glass window. After this, he also shoots Pasupathy dead and says the following words: ''Okkasaari commit ayithe naa maata nene vinanu'' ({{translation|Once I get committed, I won't listen even to my own words}}).

== Cast ==
{{colbegin}}
* [[Mahesh Babu]] as Pandu/Krishna Manohar [[Indian Police Service|IPS]], a thug who works for the underworld but is really an undercover police officer
* [[Ileana D'Cruz]] as Sruthi, a middle-class girl who is Pandu's girlfriend and harassed by a corrupt inspector Pauspathy, and Brahmi's crush
* [[Prakash Raj]] as Ali Bhai, an underworld don, Mona's boyfriend, and is Nayarana's enemy
* [[Nassar (actor)|Nassar]] as Suryanarayana, a retired police officer and Pandu And Ajay's father
* [[Ashish Vidyarthi]] as [[Sub-inspector|SI]] Pasupathy, a corrupt officer who is on Ali Bhai's side and is harassing Sruthi
* [[Sayaji Shinde]] as [[Superintendent of police (India)|ACP]] Sayed Mohammad Pasha Qadri, a police officer who has been trying to catch the underworld don Ali Bhai
* [[Suhasini Maniratnam]] as Snehalatha, Ajay's mother
* [[Sumithra (actress)|Sumithra]] as Amrutham, Pandu And Ajay's mother
* [[Brahmanandam]] as Brahmi, a software engineer, Sruthi's neighbor and who has a crush on her, and is troubled by a beggar association president and general secretary
* [[Ali (actor)|Ali]] as the president of the beggars' association, and who has been troubling Brahmi
* [[Venu Madhav (actor)|Venu Madhav]] as the General Secretary of the beggars' association, and the second person who has been troubling Brahmi
* [[Satya Prakash (actor)|Satya Prakash]] as Narayana, another underworld don who wants to kill Ali Bhai
* [[G. V. Sudhakar Naidu]] as Banda Ganesh, Narayana's right-hand man
* [[Subbaraju]] as Mallesh, Ali Bhai's right hand Nayak's henchman
* [[Ajay (actor)|Ajay]] as Ajay, Suryanaryana's son, and Pandu's brother
* [[Master Bharath]] as Sruthi's brother
* [[Paruchuri Venkateswara Rao]] as Venkatachalam, Ajay's father
* [[Chandra Mohan (Telugu actor)|Chandra Mohan]] as Chandram, Sruthi's father
* [[Sudha (actress)|Sudha]] as Lakshmi, Sruthi's mother
* [[Krishnudu]] as Pandu's friend
* [[Satyam Rajesh]] as Pandu's friend
* [[Prudhviraj|Pruthviraj]] as Vishwanath
* [[Narsing Yadav]] as Sattanna, a gangster
* [[Bandla Ganesh]] as a reporter
* [[Mumaith Khan]] cameo appearance in the song "Ippatikinka"
{{colend}}

== Production ==
=== Development ===
In 2004, after ''[[Andhrawala]]''{{'}}s commercial failure, its director [[Puri Jagannadh]] planned a film titled ''Sri Krishnudu from Surabhi Company'' starring [[Chiranjeevi]] in the lead role. He later decided that explaining the story to Chiranjeevi, talking him into accepting the role, and filming the movie, would be a long, tiring process. He chose instead to revive the script of ''Uttam Singh S/O Suryanarayana'' which he had written during the production of ''[[Badri (2000 film)|Badri]]'' (2000).{{Sfn|Chinnarayana|2015|page=26}} He approached [[Pawan Kalyan]] to play the lead role, but he declined it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/Hit-by-Chance/articleshow/21398916.cms|title=Hit by Chance|last=Kavirayani|first=Suresh|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=27 July 2013|access-date=5 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805130042/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/Hit-by-Chance/articleshow/21398916.cms|archive-date=5 August 2015}}</ref> Later, he approached [[Ravi Teja]] who agreed to play the lead; [[Nagendra Babu]] was to produce the film. However, Teja was approached by [[Cheran (director)|Cheran]], an award-winning director, to remake the 2004 [[Tamil language|Tamil]] film ''[[Autograph (2004 film)|Autograph]]'' in Telugu. Teja was eager to be involved in the remake as he liked the original very much. As a result, the production ''Uttam Singh S/O Suryanarayana'' was temporarily shelved. Jagannadh meanwhile directed and produced ''[[143 (2004 film)|143]]'' (2004). Teja had backed out of participating in it, citing scheduling conflicts with other existing commitments. Jagannadh wanted to experiment by casting [[Sonu Sood]] in the lead role, but this too failed to materialise.{{Sfn|Chinnarayana|2015|page=26}}

On 3 November 2004, Jagannadh met [[Mahesh Babu]] at the Taj Hotel in Hyderabad to outline the film's plot. It told the story of Uttam Singh, an undercover police officer, infiltrating a mafia gang as a criminal, with the intention of killing its kingpin.{{Sfn|Chinnarayana|2015|page=26}} Babu liked the script but suggested Jagannadh tweak the script's backdrop to suit the Telugu-speaking peoples' sensibilities. Jagannadh agreed and also replaced the existing title with ''Pokiri''. Babu wanted the film's production to begin in 2005 allowing him to complete his current commitments. While he waited for Babu, Jagannadh directed [[Nagarjuna (actor)|Nagarjuna]] in ''[[Super (2005 film)|Super]]'' (2005).{{Sfn|Chinnarayana|2015|page=27}} While reworking the script, Jagannadh took inspiration from ''[[Marana Mrudangam]]'' (1988) and ''[[State Rowdy]]'' (1989).{{Sfn|Chinnarayana|2015|page=27}} ''Pokiri'' was produced jointly by Jagannadh and [[Manjula Ghattamaneni]]'s production companies, [[Vaishno Academy]] and [[Indira Productions]] respectively,<ref name="new look">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/mahesh-sports-a-new-look/article3217694.ece|title=Mahesh sports a new look|last=Narasimham|first=M. L.|work=The Hindu|date=31 March 2006|access-date=5 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805130509/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/mahesh-sports-a-new-look/article3217694.ece|archive-date=5 August 2015}}</ref> on a budget of {{INR}}10{{ndash}}12 crore.{{efn|name="budget"}}

=== Cast and crew ===
For ''Pokiri'', Babu sported a longer hair style than in his previous films and shed five kilograms of weight. He used a new wardrobe and the same pair of shoes throughout the film.<ref name="Jagan">{{cite web|url=http://www.idlebrain.com/news/2000march20/chitchat-purijagan.html|title=Chitchat with Puri Jagan|publisher=[[Idlebrain.com]]|date=23 March 2006|access-date=5 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805131714/http://www.idlebrain.com/news/2000march20/chitchat-purijagan.html|archive-date=5 August 2015}}</ref> Jagannadh wanted to cast [[Ayesha Takia]] as the female lead. Due to a last minute change, the makers opted to replace Takia and considered several actresses including [[Deepika Padukone]].{{Sfn|Chinnarayana|2015|page=27}} Jagannadh approached [[Parvati Melton]] to play the female lead. She declined the offer because, at that time, her parents were against her decision to become an actress.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2007/mar/01parvati.htm|title=Parvati, new face of Telugu cinema|last=Rajamani|first=Radhika|work=[[Rediff.com]]|date=1 March 2007|access-date=5 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805131338/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2007/mar/01parvati.htm|archive-date=5 August 2015}}</ref> He also approached [[Kangana Ranaut]] who could not accept the role because of scheduling conflicts with the filming of her scenes in ''[[Gangster (2006 film)|Gangster]]'' (2006).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/southern-sojourn/article647763.ece|title=Southern sojourn|last=Chowdary|first=Y. Sunita|work=The Hindu|date=26 May 2009|access-date=5 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805131443/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/southern-sojourn/article647763.ece|archive-date=5 August 2015}}</ref> After seeing [[Still frame|stills]] of [[Ileana D'Cruz|Ileana]] in her Telugu debut ''[[Devadasu (2006 film)|Devadasu]]'' (2006), Jagannadh signed her as the female lead since he needed a girl who looked like a teenager to play the role of the aerobics teacher.<ref name="Jagan" />

[[Prakash Raj]] and [[Ashish Vidyarthi]] were cast as the film's primary antagonists. Raj played a mafia kingpin and Vidyarthi played a corrupt police officer, a villain's role he finds more fun to play than that of a hero.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Tollywoods-borrowed-baddies/articleshow/3356917.cms|title=Tollywood's borrowed baddies|last1=P.|first1=Shalini|last2=Kavirayani|first2=Suresh|work=The Times of India|date=13 August 2008|access-date=5 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805132041/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Tollywoods-borrowed-baddies/articleshow/3356917.cms|archive-date=5 August 2015}}</ref> [[Sayaji Shinde]] and [[Nassar (actor)|Nassar]] played the two other principal characters in the film. Jyothi Rana played the role of the mafia kingpin's [[Moll (slang)|moll]], marking her debut in Telugu cinema.<ref name="new look" /> Isai and [[Subbaraju]] portrayed negative roles as well, with the former also making his debut in Telugu cinema.<ref name="new look" /> [[Ali (actor)|Ali]] played the role of a beggar and shared screen-space with [[Brahmanandam]] and [[Venu Madhav (actor)|Venu Madhav]].<ref name="Jagan" /> Jagannadh added this trio to the film to provide situational humour.<ref name="new look" /> [[Master Bharath]] played the role of Ileana's brother.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/twinkle-twinkle-little-star/article1406603.ece|title=Twinkle, twinkle little star|last=Chowdary|first=Y. Sunita|work=The Hindu|date=21 January 2008|access-date=5 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805132253/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/twinkle-twinkle-little-star/article1406603.ece|archive-date=5 August 2015}}</ref> [[Mumaith Khan]] performed an [[item number]] in the film.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/dancing-with-passion/article3202527.ece|title=Dancing with passion|last=Chowdary|first=Y. Sunita|work=The Hindu|date=6 November 2006|access-date=5 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805132459/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/dancing-with-passion/article3202527.ece|archive-date=5 August 2015}}</ref>

Jagannadh wrote the film's story, screenplay and dialogue with [[Meher Ramesh]] assisting him as script associate.<ref name="Credits">{{cite AV media|title=Pokiri (Telugu)|publisher=[[YouTube]]|date=5 January 2013|medium=Motion picture|location=India}} Clip from 00:00:48 to 00:01:30.</ref> Though having worked with [[Chakri (music director)|Chakri]] many times in the past, at Babu's suggestion, Jagannadh instead chose [[Mani Sharma]] to compose the film's music.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/may/19puri.htm|title=Puri Jagannadh on the success of Pokiri|last=Vijayasarathy|first=R. G.|work=Rediff.com|date=19 May 2006|access-date=5 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805132825/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/may/19puri.htm|archive-date=5 August 2015}}</ref> [[Shyam K. Naidu]] was the film's cinematographer and [[Marthand K. Venkatesh]] its editor. Chinna and Krishna were the film's art director and executive producer respectively.<ref name="Credits" />

=== Filming ===
''Pokiri'' was shot predominantly in and around [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]], especially in the [[Annapurna Studios]], the aluminium factory near [[Gachibowli]], Gayathri Hills and the [[Golconda Fort]]{{Sfn|Chinnarayana|2015|page=27}} in 100 working days,<ref name="Jagan" /> from November 2005 to April 2006.<ref name="Mahesh int">{{cite web|url=http://www.idlebrain.com/news/2000march20/chitchat-maheshbabu2.html|title=Chitchat with Mahesh Babu|publisher=Idlebrain.com|date=6 June 2006|access-date=5 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805153426/http://www.idlebrain.com/news/2000march20/chitchat-maheshbabu2.html|archive-date=5 August 2015}}</ref> Most of the scenes were shot in a single take though it took time for Babu to adjust to Jagannadh's style of filmmaking.{{Sfn|Chinnarayana|2015|page=27}} [[Chennai]]-based stylist Chaitanya Rao designed the costume styling for Babu and Ileana.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/his-next-design-stop/article7018843.ece|title=His next design stop|last=Joseph|first=Raveena|work=The Hindu|date=22 March 2015|access-date=5 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805153650/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/his-next-design-stop/article7018843.ece|archive-date=5 August 2015}}</ref> By late February 2006, eighty percent of the film shoot had been completed with the film's climax and two songs remaining. This made it Babu's fastest shot Telugu film with him in the lead role.<ref name="Sify Apr 21">{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/pokiri-on-april-21-news-telugu-kkfvr5hfifesi.html|title='Pokiri' on April 21|website=[[Sify]]|date=27 February 2006|access-date=5 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805153912/http://www.sify.com/movies/pokiri-on-april-21-news-telugu-kkfvr5hfifesi.html|archive-date=5 August 2015}}</ref>

The song "Gala Gala" was shot in the [[Provinces of Thailand|province]] of [[Phuket Province|Phuket]] in [[Thailand]], and the city of [[Bangkok]].{{Sfn|Chinnarayana|2015|page=27}} Prior to the filming of the song "Jagadame", Shyam K. Naidu was busy on the set of ''[[Munna (2007 film)|Munna]]'' (2007) and was unable to shoot it so cinematographer [[K. V. Guhan]], who had worked on Babu's ''[[Athadu]]'' (2005), was recruited instead.{{Sfn|Chinnarayana|2015|page=27}} The film's climax sequences were shot in March 2006 at the defunct [[Binny and Co.|Binny Mills]] located in Chennai under the supervision of [[FEFSI Vijayan]].<ref name="new look" /> He suggested that Jagannadh include a scene where Prakash Raj fails to hear anything for a while after he is hit by Babu during the climax sequence.{{Sfn|Chinnarayana|2015|page=27}}

Babu stated in an interview that he had to shoot the film's climax and two songs continuously for thirty-eight days, adding that he had to visit a hospital to be treated for shoulder pain.<ref name="Mahesh int" /> During the shooting of an underwater sequence, a few electrical lights were used. The electricians changed the lines, creating a [[short circuit]] which resulted in the death of one of the unit members. Babu had gotten out of the pool two seconds before the accident happened, which he termed a "miracle".<ref name="Prince">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/the-prince-does-it-again/article3218139.ece|title=The 'Prince' does it again|last=Chowdary|first=Y. Sunita|work=The Hindu|date=12 May 2006|access-date=5 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805154229/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/the-prince-does-it-again/article3218139.ece|archive-date=5 August 2015}}</ref>

Ileana D'Cruz's [[T-shirt]] which was printed with "I May Not Be Perfect But Parts of Me Are Pretty Awesome" had earlier been used in Puri Jagannadh's ''[[Hello Premistara]]'' (2007).{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}

== Music ==
{{Infobox album
| name         = Pokiri
| type         = Soundtrack
| artist       = [[Mani Sharma]]
| cover        = 
| alt          = 
| caption      = Soundtrack album cover
| released     = {{Start date|df=yes|2006|03|26}}
| recorded     = 2005–2006
| venue        = 
| studio       = 
| genre        = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length       = {{Duration|m=28|s=01}}
| label        = [[Aditya Music]]
| producer     = Mani Sharma
| prev_title   = [[Veerabhadra (film)|Veerabhadra]]
| prev_year    = 2006
| next_title   = [[Ashok (film)|Ashok]]
| next_year    = 2006
}}

The official soundtrack of ''Pokiri'' was composed by [[Mani Sharma]], with lyrics written by  [[Bhaskarabhatla Ravi Kumar|Bhaskarabhatla]], Kandikonda, and [[Viswa]]. Jagannadh wanted Sharma to compose six songs, with two duets between the lead pair, three solo numbers by the male lead, and an item number.<ref name="Jagan" /> During the shoot of ''[[Sivamani (Telugu film)|Sivamani]]'' (2003), Jagannadh listened to the song "Listen to the Falling Rain," which sounded like the song "Gala Gala Parutunna Godarila" from the Telugu film ''Gowri'' (1974). He later came to learn that the latter song was inspired by the former,{{Sfn|Chinnarayana|2015|page=27}} and he decided to reuse the same tune with modernised instruments and different lyrics.<ref name="Jagan" /> Sharma was accused of copying the tune of the song "[[Jaleo (Ricky Martin song)|Jaleo]]" composed by [[Ricky Martin]] and "[[Rapture (iiO song)|Rapture]]" by [[iiO]] for the songs "Devuda" sung by Naveen and "Dole Dole" sung by [[Ranjith (singer)|Ranjith]] and [[Suchitra]], respectively.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://nettv4u.com/entertainment/telugu/article/top-10-tollywood-songs-which-were-copied | title=10 Songs Which Copied Their Tunes from Other Films &#124; Telugu|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627085045/https://nettv4u.com/entertainment/telugu/article/top-10-tollywood-songs-which-were-copied|archive-date=27 June 2017}}</ref>

The film's soundtrack, marketed by [[Aditya Music]], was released on 26 March 2006, at Hotel Viceroy in Hyderabad with Babu's father [[Krishna (Telugu actor)|Krishna]] attending the event as the guest of honour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/pokiri-on-april-28-news-telugu-kkfvnKiceibsi.html|title='Pokiri' on April 28|website=[[Sify]]|date=27 March 2006|access-date=7 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807171712/http://www.sify.com/movies/pokiri-on-april-28-news-telugu-kkfvnKiceibsi.html|archive-date=7 August 2015}}</ref> [[Sify]] called the soundtrack a peppy one and chose "Gala Gala" as the pick of the album.<ref name="Sify R" />

{{track listing
| headline = Track list
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length = 28:01
| title1 = Devuda
| lyrics1 = [[Bhaskarabhatla Ravi Kumar|Bhaskarabhatla]]
| extra1 = Naveen
| length1 = 04:32
| title2 = Dole Dole
| lyrics2 = [[Viswa]]
| extra2 = [[Suchitra]], [[Ranjith (singer)|Ranjith]]
| length2 = 04:43
| title3 = Gala Gala
| lyrics3 = Kandikonda
| extra3 = Nihal
| length3 = 04:35
| title4 = Ippatikinka
| lyrics4 = Bhaskarabhatla
| extra4 = [[Suchitra]], [[Khushi Murali]]
| length4 = 04:38
| title5 = Jagadame
| lyrics5 = Kandikonda
| extra5 = [[Kunal Ganjawala]]
| length5 = 04:31
| title6 = Choododdantunna
| lyrics6 = Bhaskarabhatla
| extra6 = [[Karthik (singer)|Karthik]], [[Mahalakshmi Iyer]]
| length6 = 05:02
| title9 = 
| title10 = 
| length9 = 
| all_writing = 
| length8 = 
| title8 = 
| length7 = 
| title7 = 
| length10 = 
}}

== Release ==
=== Theatrical ===
''Pokiri'' was scheduled for a worldwide release on 21 April 2006.<ref name="Sify Apr 21" /> Due to delays in post-production activities, the film's release was postponed to 27 April 2006,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/releases-pushed-news-telugu-kkfvnzcdaifsi.html|title=Releases pushed!|website=[[Sify]]|date=10 April 2006|access-date=8 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150808141421/http://www.sify.com/movies/releases-pushed-news-telugu-kkfvnzcdaifsi.html|archive-date=8 August 2015}}</ref> clashing with the release of ''[[Bangaram (film)|Bangaram]]'' and ''[[Veerabhadra (film)|Veerabhadra]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/pokiri-vs-bangaram-battle-news-telugu-kkfvngbfgcgsi.html|title='Pokiri' Vs 'Bangaram' battle!|website=[[Sify]]|date=12 April 2006|access-date=8 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150808141429/http://www.sify.com/movies/pokiri-vs-bangaram-battle-news-telugu-kkfvngbfgcgsi.html|archive-date=8 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/clash-of-the-titans-news-telugu-kkfvlOdebhbsi.html|title=Clash of the titans!|website=[[Sify]]|date=28 April 2006|access-date=8 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150808141630/http://www.sify.com/movies/clash-of-the-titans-news-telugu-kkfvlOdebhbsi.html|archive-date=8 August 2015}}</ref> The film received an '[[A certificate|A]]' (Adults Only) certificate from the [[Central Board of Film Certification|CBFC]] for containing obscene sequences and excessive violence.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/film-makers-eyeing-a-grade-certification/article122390.ece|title=Film makers eyeing 'A' grade certification|last=Kumar|first=S. Sandeep|work=The Hindu|date=24 December 2009|access-date=8 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150808141629/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/film-makers-eyeing-a-grade-certification/article122390.ece|archive-date=8 August 2015}}</ref> [[Dil Raju]]{{'s}} [[Sri Venkateswara Creations]], Mallikharjuna films and Great India films acquired the theatrical distribution rights of Nizam,{{efn|For film trade purposes, the Nizam region includes the three districts of [[Kalaburagi district|Kalaburagi]], [[Bidar district|Bidar]], and [[Raichur district|Raichur]] in [[Karnataka]] and seven districts in the [[Marathwada]] region including [[Aurangabad district, Maharashtra|Aurangabad]], [[Latur district|Latur]], [[Nanded district|Nanded]], [[Parbhani district|Parbhani]], [[Beed district|Beed]], [[Jalna district|Jalna]] and [[Osmanabad district|Osmanabad]] apart from the state of [[Telangana]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Nizam-territory-will-remain-indispensable-for-Tollywood/articleshow/21499426.cms|title=Nizam territory will remain indispensable for Tollywood|work=The Times of India|date=31 July 2013|access-date=8 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215082550/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Nizam-territory-will-remain-indispensable-for-Tollywood/articleshow/21499426.cms|archive-date=15 February 2015}}</ref>}} Ceded and overseas regions respectively.<ref name="Jagan" /> ''Pokiri'' was one of the fourteen southern Indian films that were screened at the [[7th IIFA Awards|IIFA film festival 2006]] held at the [[Dubai International Convention Centre]] in [[Dubai]], United Arab Emirates.<ref name="IIFA">{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/pokiri-power-news-telugu-kkfvjIaaacdsi.html|title='Pokiri' power!|website=[[Sify]]|date=17 July 2006|access-date=8 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150808152353/http://www.sify.com/movies/pokiri-power-news-telugu-kkfvjIaaacdsi.html|archive-date=8 August 2015}}</ref>

==Re-release==
''Pokiri'' was re-released in theaters worldwide on 9 August 2022, coinciding with Babu's birthday, with remastered picture and sound,
and grossing ₹1.7 crore 
during its re-run.<ref name="gross2" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=India |first=The Hans |date=2022-07-19 |title=Pokiri 4k Remastered Version Releasing On Mahesh Babu's Birthday |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/cinema/tollywood/pokiri-4k-remastered-version-releasing-on-mahesh-babus-birthday-754124 |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=[[The Hans India]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Today |first=Telangana |date=2022-07-19 |title=Mahesh Babu's 'Pokiri' to release theatrically again |url=https://telanganatoday.com/mahesh-babus-pokiri-to-release-theatrically-again |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=Telangana Today |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Reception ==
''Pokiri'' received positive reviews from critics with praise for its direction, screenwriting, dialogues, soundtrack, musical score, [[plot twist]], action sequences and Mahesh Babu's performance.

=== Critical response ===
''[[The Hindu]]'' wrote: "An out and out action flick, one can see the director's thirst to cash in on the audience craze for such films. Nevertheless it's Mahesh Babu's show all the way. Mahesh's understated performance in ''Pokiri'' allows him to effortlessly reclaim the title of a star, overshadowing more questionable recent career choices."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/its-action-unlimited-from-mahesh-babu/article3153958.ece|title=It's action unlimited from Mahesh Babu|work=The Hindu|date=29 April 2006|access-date=8 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150808143719/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/its-action-unlimited-from-mahesh-babu/article3153958.ece|archive-date=8 August 2015}}</ref> ''[[Sify.com|Sify]]'' wrote "''Pokiri'' was designed as a mass masala extravaganza which satisfies the undemanding viewers. Mahesh Babu has strong screen presence that works to the advantage of the film."<ref name="Sify R">{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/pokiri-review-telugu-14194997.html|title=Movie Review : Pokiri|website=[[Sify]]|date=28 April 2006|access-date=1 November 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430080647/http://www.sify.com/movies/pokiri-review-telugu-14194997.html|archive-date=30 April 2014}}</ref>

''[[Rediff.com|Rediff]]'' wrote "Sporting a new, rugged look, 'Prince' Mahesh Babu has stolen the show. He carries the film on his shoulders, consolidating his winning streak after last year's ''[[Athadu]]''. Another highlight of the film is its well-choreographed action sequences (if you can digest the violence), which give it a slick look."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/jun/14spice.htm|title=Pudupettai, a success|work=Rediff.com|date=14 June 2006|access-date=9 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150809021632/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/jun/14spice.htm|archive-date=9 August 2015}}</ref>

=== Box office ===
According to Sify, ''Pokiri'' took an "extraordinary" opening across the globe and was able to cash in on the four-day weekend holiday.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/pokiri-a-hit-news-telugu-kkfvlKgabcisi.html|title=Pokiri- A hit!|website=[[Sify]]|date=2 May 2006|access-date=8 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150808151915/http://www.sify.com/movies/pokiri-a-hit-news-telugu-kkfvlKgabcisi.html|archive-date=8 August 2015}}</ref> ''Pokiri'' was released in a single screen, the Jayaprada theatre in [[Chennai]], where 98.5% of seats were sold putting it in second place in the city's box office chart, which Sify called an "awesome" feat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/boxoffice.php?id=14196386&cid=13525926|title=Chennai Box Office (April 28 – May 1)|website=[[Sify]]|date=3 May 2006|access-date=8 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010025932/http://www.sify.com/movies/boxoffice.php?id=14196386&cid=13525926|archive-date=10 October 2012}}</ref> The film completed a fifty-day run on 17 June 2006, in nearly 300 centres and had earned US$350,000 to become the highest grossing Telugu film in the United States.<ref name="IIFA" /> By July 2006, the film had earned approximately {{INR}}35{{ndash}}40 crore and become the highest grossing Telugu film of all time. The film earned {{INR}}11.70 crore in the Nizam region alone, breaking the previous record set in the region by ''[[Indra (2002 film)|Indra]]'' (2002) and earned approximately {{INR}}2.5 crore at the United States box office.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/half-yearly-report-news-telugu-kkfvjzgihiisi.html|title=Half Yearly report!|website=[[Sify]]|date=7 July 2006|access-date=8 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150808151141/http://www.sify.com/movies/half-yearly-report-news-telugu-kkfvjzgihiisi.html|archive-date=8 August 2015}}</ref>

The film completed a 100-day run in 200 centres and a 175-day run in 63 centres.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} The film completed a 200-day run in 15 centres, and a 365-day run at a theatre in [[Kurnool]], becoming the first Telugu film to do so in the last two and a half decades.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/article1836945.ece|title='Pokiri' breaks magical mark in Kurnool|last=Madhav|first=K. V. S.|work=The Hindu|date=3 May 2007|access-date=8 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150808155200/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/article1836945.ece|archive-date=8 August 2015}}</ref> The film was screened in Bhagiratha theatre, [[Kurnool]] for 500 days at the rate of four shows per day and collected a share of {{INR}}60 lakh.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} In its lifetime, ''Pokiri'' collected a distributor share of {{INR}}42 crore at the global box office.<ref>{{cite web |title=Adavi Ramudu to Baahubaali: Telugu Movies That Set the Cash Registers Ringing |url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/adavi-ramudu-to-baahubaali-telugu-movies-that-set-the-cash-registers-ringing-4890140.html |website=News18 |access-date=13 April 2025 |language=en}}</ref> The film was reported to have grossed over {{INR}}70 crore,<ref>{{cite web |title=Kangana Ranaut said no to playing the leading lady opposite THIS Tollywood actor |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/when-kangana-ranaut-refused-to-work-with-mahesh-babu-in-his-telugu-blockbuster-pokiri-13174902.html |website=Firstpost |access-date=13 April 2025 |language=en-us |date=27 September 2023}}</ref> however some estimates, based on the distributor share of the film at the time, indicate that the global gross figure may have been up to {{INR}}76 crore. It held that position until 2009 when ''[[Magadheera]]'' pushed it to second place after its nine-day run.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

''Pokiri'' grossed over {{INR}}1.7 crore in its 2022 re-release.<ref name="gross2">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-08-10 |title=Pokiri Special Shows Collections: పోకిరి స్పెషల్ షోస్‌ కలెక్షన్లు ఎన్నో తెలుసా? |url=https://telugu.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/pokiri-special-shows-collections-are-out-121660137458247.html |access-date= |website=[[Hindustan Times]] |language=te}}</ref>

=== Accolades ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Ceremony
! Category
! Nominee
! Result
! {{Tooltip|Ref(s)|Reference}}
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Nandi Awards]]
|[[Nandi Award for Best Popular Feature Film|Best Popular Feature Film]]
|[[Puri Jagannadh]] & [[Manjula Ghattamaneni]]
|{{won}}
|rowspan="5"|{{center|<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/article1198955.ece|title=Nandi film awards for Nagarjuna, Nandita|work=The Hindu|date=14 February 2008|access-date=8 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150808163214/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/article1198955.ece|archive-date=8 August 2015}}</ref>}}
|-
|[[Nandi Award for Best Editor|Best Editor]]
|[[Marthand K. Venkatesh]]
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Nandi Award for Best Fight Master|Best Fight Master]]
|[[FEFSI Vijayan]]
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Nandi Award for Best Male Dubbing Artist|Best Male Dubbing Artist]]
|[[P. Ravi Shankar]]
|{{won}}
|-
| [[Nandi Award for Best Audiographer|Best Audiographer]]
| Radha Krishna
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[Filmfare Awards South|54th Filmfare Awards South]]
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Director&nbsp;– Telugu|Best Director&nbsp;– Telugu]]
|Puri Jagannadh
|{{won}}
|rowspan="2"|{{center|{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}}}
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Actor&nbsp;– Telugu|Best Actor&nbsp;– Telugu]]
|[[Mahesh Babu]]
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Santosham Film Awards]]
|[[Santosham Film Awards|Santosham Film Award Best Actor - Male]]
|Mahesh Babu
|{{won}}
|{{center|{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}}}
|-
|Vamsee Film Awards 2007
|Best Actor&nbsp;– Male
|Mahesh Babu
|{{won}}
|{{center|<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/vamsee-awards-for-mahesh-babu-bhoomika/article1352852.ece|title=Vamsee awards for Mahesh Babu, Bhoomika|work=The Hindu|date=7 October 2008|access-date=15 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710113227/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/vamsee-awards-for-mahesh-babu-bhoomika/article1352852.ece|archive-date=10 July 2015}}</ref>}}
|}

== Remakes ==
''Pokiri'' has been remade in various languages across India. It was first remade into [[Tamil language|Tamil]] as ''[[Pokkiri]]'' in 2007 by [[Prabhu Deva]], and marked his debut as a director in [[Tamil cinema]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/entertainment/movies/tamil/boxoffice/fullstory.php?id=14243296|title='Pokiri' starts rolling!|website=[[Sify]]|date=6 July 2006|access-date=8 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150808164230/http://www.sify.com/entertainment/movies/tamil/boxoffice/fullstory.php?id=14243296|archive-date=8 August 2015}}</ref> Deva remade the film into [[Hindi]] as ''[[Wanted (2009 film)|Wanted]]'' in 2009. ''Wanted'' became the second highest-grossing Hindi film of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/Telugu-films-remade-in-Bollywood/photostory/48371144.cms|title=Telugu films remade in Bollywood|work=The Times of India|date=6 August 2015|access-date=8 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150808164812/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/Telugu-films-remade-in-Bollywood/photostory/48371144.cms|url-status=live|archive-date=8 August 2015}}</ref> ''Pokiri'' was remade into [[Kannada]] as ''[[Porki]]'' in 2010 by M. D. Sridhar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movie-reviews/Porki/movie-review/5519489.cms|title=Porki Movie Review|last=Kumar|first=G. S.|work=The Times of India|date=30 December 2010|access-date=8 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321233741/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movie-reviews/Porki/movie-review/5519489.cms|url-status=live|archive-date=21 March 2018}}</ref> It was also partially remade in [[Bengali language|Bengali]] as ''[[Moner Jala]]''.<ref>{{cite news |script-title=bn:শাকিব-অপু জুটির 'মনের জ্বালা'র বাম্পার সেল |url=http://www.mzamin.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8002%3A2011-04-23-13-38-03&catid=36%3Alocal&Itemid=68|work=Manab Zamin|date=2011-04-23|access-date=2021-07-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025827/http://www.mzamin.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8002:2011-04-23-13-38-03&catid=36:local&Itemid=68%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AC-%E0%A6%85%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%81 |archive-date=2016-03-04}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
[[File:Ileana D'cruz.jpg|thumb|200px|Ileana (''pictured'') received her breakthrough with this film's success which catapulted her to superstardom.<ref name="breakthrough" />]]

''Pokiri''{{'s}} success elevated Babu to super-stardom and brought recognition to Jagannadh as a writer and director. The sequences featuring Brahmanandam as a software engineer, the comedy track of Ali and Brahmanandam, Babu asking Ileana to give him [[upma]] at the railway station were acclaimed.{{Sfn|Chinnarayana|2015|page=27}} The fashion trend of wearing doctor sleeves increased in Andhra Pradesh after Babu sported them, and they continue to influence fashion even today.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/fashion/trends/Star-styles-that-became-a-rage/articleshow/48202705.cms |title=Star styles that became a rage |work=The Times of India |date=25 July 2015 |access-date=11 August 2015 |last=Rao |first=Siddhartha |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811013123/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/fashion/trends/Star-styles-that-became-a-rage/articleshow/48202705.cms |archive-date=11 August 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> After the film's release, many films were released subsequently that had titles bordering on cuss words including Jagannadh's next film ''[[Desamuduru]]'' (2007).<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/beaten-track-best-bet/article1827892.ece | title=Beaten track best bet | work=The Hindu | date=13 April 2007 | access-date=9 August 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150809044603/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/beaten-track-best-bet/article1827892.ece | archive-date=9 August 2015}}</ref> Babu revealed that he became confused after the film's success:<blockquote>It was such a huge hit, that if someone came to me with a script, I would approach the result of the film before approaching the character. I only wanted to act in movies that were like ''Pokiri'', I think that was a mistake. It all got to me, and I felt that I needed a break from films itself. Initially, I wanted just a seven-month break. I signed ''[[Khaleja]]'' after nine months, but it just kept getting delayed, and the break ended up becoming a two-year-long holiday. But I didn't freak out... I relaxed for the first time in life.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/Mahesh-Babu-Exclusive-Interview/articleshow/15077102.cms | title=Mahesh Babu Exclusive Interview | work=The Times of India | date=22 July 2012 | access-date=9 August 2015 | last=Francis | first=Christina | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150809090255/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/Mahesh-Babu-Exclusive-Interview/articleshow/15077102.cms | archive-date=9 August 2015}}</ref></blockquote>

Two dialogues spoken by Babu in ''Pokiri'' became popular: "Evvadu kodute dimma tirigi mind block ayipotundo, vaade Pandugaadu" ({{translation|He whose punch makes your head spin and your mind fully blocked: that's Pandu}}) and "Okkasari commit ayite naa mata neene vinanu" ({{Translation|Once I commit to something, I won't even heed my own words}}).<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9Ow_DwAAQBAJ&q=Pokiri+famous+dialogue+commit&pg=PA13 |title=Holistic Approaches to Brand Culture and Communication Across Industries |publisher=IGI Global |year=2017 |editor-last=Dasgupta |editor-first=Sabyasachi |page=13 |isbn=9781522531517 |editor-last2=Biswal |editor-first2=Santosh Kumar |editor-last3=Ramesh |editor-first3=M. Anil}}</ref> The film was Ileana's breakthrough in Telugu.<ref name="breakthrough">{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/i-want-to-do-challenging-roles/article134298.ece | title=I want to do challenging roles | work=The Hindu | date=7 November 2009 | access-date=9 August 2015 | last=Ganguly | first=Nivedita | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150809044601/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/i-want-to-do-challenging-roles/article134298.ece | archive-date=9 August 2015}}</ref> In June 2006, Trade analyst Sridhar Pillai said that the Andhra Pradesh trade felt that her glamour, screen presence, and on-screen chemistry with Babu worked to the film's advantage. Pillai called her the "new pin-up girl of Telugu cinema".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/new-pinup-girl/article3193632.ece | title=New pin-up girl | work=The Hindu | date=1 June 2006 | access-date=9 August 2015 | last=Pillai | first=Sridhar | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150809044600/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/new-pinup-girl/article3193632.ece | archive-date=9 August 2015}}</ref> Talking about being typecast after her success in ''[[Ye Maaya Chesave]]'' (2010) as its female lead, [[Samantha Ruth Prabhu]] cited the example of Ileana being typecast in similar roles after the success of ''Pokiri'' saying that it had become mandatory for her to wear a bikini in every film since.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/Im-sexy-and-I-know-it/articleshow/19913176.cms |title=I'm sexy and I know it! |work=The Times of India |date=6 May 2013 |access-date=9 August 2015 |last=Pasupulate |first=Karthik |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150809044558/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/Im-sexy-and-I-know-it/articleshow/19913176.cms |archive-date= 9 August 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

''Pokiri'' was parodied by several films. In ''Desamuduru'', the character Gudumba Shankar, a saint played by Ali, is seen imitating Babu's mannerism from the song "Dole Dole".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNLOnGun7uU  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/dNLOnGun7uU |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live| title=Ali Imitate Chiranjeevi In Desamuduru Movie Comedy Scene | publisher=YouTube | date=26 June 2012 | access-date=9 August 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Brahmanandam's introduction scene in the film ''[[Jalsa]]'' (2008) is a spoof of Babu's introduction as a police officer in ''Pokiri''.<ref>{{cite AV media | title=Jalsa | publisher=[[Geetha Arts]] | date=2008 | medium=motion picture | location=India | language=te | time=01:43:50 to 01:44:15 | time-caption=From}}</ref> The same sequence was spoofed in the films ''[[Sudigadu]]'' (2012) where the protagonist is named Siva Manohar [[Indian Police Service|I. P. S.]],<ref>{{cite AV media | title=Sudigadu | publisher=Arundathi Movies | date=2012 | medium=motion picture | location=India | language=te | time=01:50:42 to 01:51:30 | time-caption=From}}</ref> and also in ''[[Race Gurram]]'' (2014).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7xPXMYiV8E  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/z7xPXMYiV8E |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live| title=Race Gurram Telugu Movie HD Part 10/12 &nbsp;– Allu Arjun, Shruti Hassan | publisher=YouTube | date=21 November 2014 | access-date=9 August 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In ''[[Dookudu]]'' (2011), Babu is briefly seen as a film director who makes [[Prudhvi Raj]] and [[M. S. Narayana]] recite the dialogue "Evvadu Kodutge Dimma Tirigi Mind Blockaipothundo, Vaade Pandugaadu" from ''Pokiri''.<ref>{{cite AV media | title=Dookudu | publisher=14 Reels Entertainment | date=2011 | medium=motion picture | location=India | language=te | time=01:40:21 to 01:41:30 | time-caption=From}}</ref> The protagonist in ''[[Eega]]'' (2012), a fly, imitates Babu's mannerisms from the song "Jagadame" after injuring the antagonist played by [[Sudeep]].<ref>{{cite AV media | title=Eega | publisher=[[Varahi Chalana Chitram]] | date=2012 | medium=motion picture | location=India | language=te | time=01:28:22 to 01:28:32 | time-caption=From}}</ref> Sayaji Shinde's dialogue in the film, "Tinnama Padukunnama Tellarinda", inspired a film of the same name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.idlebrain.com/news/functions/muhurat-tpt.html|title = Tinnama Padukunnama, Tellarinda muhurat - Telugu cinema function - Ali, Jyothy Krishna & Sivani}}</ref> In ''[[Thank You (2022 film)|Thank You]]'' (2022), [[Naga Chaitanya]] is briefly seen as a fan of Babu organizing and enjoying the film in [[Vishakapatnam]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Purohit |first=Rupal |date=2022-07-20 |title=Naga Chaitanya Reveals Why He Chose Thank You |url=https://lehren.com/regional/telugu/naga-chaitanya-reveals-why-he-chose-thank-you/138668/ |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=Latest Bollywood & Hollywood Entertainment, News, Celebrity Gossip, Lifestyle, Originals, Regional & COVID Updates {{!}} Lehren |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist|25em}}

== Sources ==

{{Empty section|date=March 2025}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|0816258|Pokiri}}

{{Nandi Award for Best Popular Feature Film}}
{{Puri Jagannadh}}

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